Container with one or more tray retention portions and support stand

ABSTRACT

Containers with one or more tray retention portions and a support stand are described. For example, a container can include: a substantially hollow body including a plurality of body walls extending vertically from a bottom portion; an extension portion rotatably coupled to an outward-facing surface of a body wall among the plurality of body walls, the extension portion configured to rotate to an active position in which the extension portion extends outwardly from the body wall; and a support stand having a proximal end coupled to the outward-facing surface of the body wall and a distal end, the support stand configured to move between at least a stowed position in which the support stand is positioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of the body wall and a support position in which the support stand extends outwardly from the body wall.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is divisional of and claims benefit to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/545,209, entitled “Container With One OrMore Tray Retention Portions And Support Stand” and filed on Aug. 20,2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,027,885 issued on Jun. 8, 2021, which is anon-provisional application of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/720,466, entitled “Container WithOne Or More Tray Retention Portions And Support Stand” and filed on Aug.21, 2018, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to containers, and moreparticularly, to a container with one or more tray retention portionsand a support stand.

BACKGROUND

Containers, such as coolers, ice chests, and the like, are often usedfor picnics because of their ability to portably store food andbeverages. During many picnics, a common inconvenience arises in which alack of counter-space limits one's ability to prepare or serve meals.Users often resolve this issue by bringing trays on which to preparemeals, store utensils, serve food and drinks, and so forth.

However, conventional containers lack the capability for securelyretaining these trays while in use. Users resort to, for instance,placing the tray atop the container without means for securing the trayin place, laying the tray on the ground, or even holding the tray ontheir lap. Furthermore, conventional containers lack the capability forsecurely storing the trays while not in use, e.g., during transportationof the container.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a container which can include one ormore tray retention portions, such as an internal tray retention portionand an external tray retention portion. The internal tray retentionportion can be formed in a lid of the container, and can include atleast a first rail and a second rail respectively formed in an undersideof the lid so as to receive and retain the tray therein. The externaltray retention portion can be formed in an upper surface of an extensionportion, such as a handle, rotatably coupled to an outward-facingsurface of one of the container walls. The container can further includea support stand coupled to the outward-facing surface of one of thecontainer walls. When in use, the support stand can provide support forthe extension portion by preventing downward rotation of the extensionportion.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a containercan include: a substantially hollow body including a plurality of bodywalls extending vertically from a bottom portion; an extension portionrotatably coupled to an outward-facing surface of a body wall among theplurality of body walls, the extension portion configured to rotate toan active position in which the extension portion extends outwardly fromthe body wall; and a support stand having a proximal end coupled to theoutward-facing surface of the body wall and a distal end, the supportstand configured to move between at least a stowed position in which thesupport stand is positioned against or proximate to the outward-facingsurface of the body wall and a support position in which the supportstand extends outwardly from the body wall. When the support stand is inthe support position, the distal end of the support stand can engagewith an underside of the extension portion such that the support standprevents downward rotation of the extension portion.

The extension portion can be further configured to rotate between atleast the active position and an inactive position in which theextension portion is positioned against or proximate to theoutward-facing surface of the body wall.

When the support stand is in the support position, such that the distalend of the support stand engages with the underside of the extensionportion, an angle formed between the extension portion and the body wallcan be approximately equal to 90 degrees, and an angle formed betweenthe support stand and the body wall can be less than 90 degrees.

The extension portion can be a handle including a pair of outwardlyextending arms connected via a transversely extending crossbar. In thisregard, upper surfaces of the arms and crossbar can form an externaltray retention portion configured to removably retain a tray having asubstantially flat, elongate surface. When the support stand is in thesupport position and the external tray retention portion retains thetray, the support stand can provide support for the tray and theextension portion. Also, the external tray retention portion can matewith an underside of the tray so as to prevent lateral movement of thetray.

When the support stand is in the support position, the support stand canprovide support for the extension portion such that a downward forceapplied to the extension portion is transferred through the supportstand to the body wall.

The proximal end of the support stand can be rotatably coupled to thebody wall, and the support stand can be configured to rotate between atleast the stowed position and the support position.

The container can further include an indentation portion formed on theunderside of the extension portion, the indentation portion configuredto mate with the distal end of the support stand when the support standis in the support position.

The distal end of the support stand can include a transversely extendingcrossbar configured to engage with the underside of the extensionportion.

When the support stand is in the stowed position, the support stand andthe extension portion can be unattached to each other.

The distal end of the support stand can be bolted to the underside ofthe extension portion.

The support stand can include a hinging portion configured to fullyhinge when the support stand is in the stowed position and fully extendwhen the support stand is in the support position.

When the support stand is in the stowed position and the extensionportion is in an inactive position in which the extension portion ispositioned against or proximate to the surface of the body wall, theextension portion can at least partially conceal the support stand.

The extension portion can be a tray having a substantially flat,elongate surface.

Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, acontainer can include: a substantially hollow body including a pluralityof body walls extending vertically from a bottom portion; a lidrotatably coupled to, or removable from, an upper portion of a body wallamong the plurality of body walls, the lid configured to reversiblyclose an opening of the body formed by the plurality of body walls; andan internal tray retention portion formed in an underside of the lidconfigured to removably retain a tray having a substantially flat,elongate surface, the internal tray retention portion including at leasta first rail and a second rail respectively formed on opposite sides ofa peripheral region of the underside of the lid, the first rail and thesecond rail formed so as to receive and retain the tray therein.

The internal tray retention portion can further include a third railformed on the peripheral region of the underside of the lidperpendicular to the first rail and the second rail.

The internal tray retention portion can further include an elongateprotrusion portion formed inside of the peripheral region of theunderside of the lid perpendicular to the first rail and the second railand parallel to the third rail.

A shape formed by the first rail, the second rail, the third rail, andthe protrusion portion can substantially correspond to a shape of thetray.

The first rail and the second rail are connected via the third rail.Alternatively, the first rail, the second rail, and the third rail canbe physically separate from each other.

Furthermore, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, acontainer system can include: a substantially hollow body including aplurality of body walls extending vertically from a bottom portion; aremovable tray having a substantially flat, elongate surface; a lidrotatably coupled to, or removable from, an upper portion of theplurality of body walls, the lid configured to reversibly close anopening of the body formed by the plurality of body walls; a handlerotatably coupled to an outward-facing surface of a body wall among theplurality of body walls, the handle configured to rotate to an activeposition in which the handle extends outwardly from the body wall; asupport stand having a proximal end coupled to the outward-facingsurface of the body wall and a distal end, the support stand configuredto move between at least a stowed position in which the support stand ispositioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall and a support position in which the support stand extendsoutwardly from the body wall and engages with an underside of thehandle; an internal tray retention portion formed in an underside of thelid configured to removably retain the tray; and an external trayretention portion formed in an upper surface of the handle configured toremovably retain the tray. When the support stand is in the supportposition and the external tray retention portion retains the tray, thesupport stand can provide support for the tray and the handle such thatthe support stand prevents downward rotation of the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein may be better understood by referring to thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like reference numerals indicate identically or functionallysimilar elements, of which:

FIGS. 1A-1C include views of a container with a rotatable extensionportion;

FIGS. 2A and 2B include views of the container of FIG. 1 with arotatable support stand;

FIGS. 3A and 3B include views of the container of FIG. 1 with thesupport stand engaging with the extension portion;

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of the support stand engaging with theextension portion taken along line A-A of FIG. 3B;

FIGS. 5A and 5B include views of the container of FIG. 1 having a trayplaced on an external tray retention portion formed in the extensionportion;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 with an internaltray retention portion formed in an underside of a lid;

FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of the internal tray retentionportion of FIG. 6 ;

FIGS. 8A and 8B include isolated perspective views of the lid and theinternal tray retention portion of FIG. 6 ;

FIGS. 9A and 9B include perspective views of a tray being inserted intothe internal tray retention portion of FIG. 6 ; and

FIGS. 10A-10C include perspective views of the container of FIG. 1 withan additional extension portion and support stand.

It should be understood that the above-referenced drawings are notnecessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation ofvarious preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of thedisclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure,including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations,and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intendedapplication and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As those skilled inthe art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified invarious different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scopeof the present disclosure. Further, throughout the specification, likereference numerals refer to like elements.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

Referring now to embodiments of the present disclosure, the disclosedcontainer, such as a cooler, an ice chest, or the like, can include oneor more tray retention portions for securely receiving and retaining aremovable tray having a having a substantially flat, elongate surface.The one or more tray retention portions can include, for instance, aninternal tray retention portion and/or an external tray retentionportion. The container can include a support stand coupled to acontainer wall for, among other things, supporting a weight of theexternal tray retention portion. As a result, a user can securely andconveniently utilize and store a tray to assist in preparing meals,storing utensils, serving food or drinks, and the like.

FIGS. 1A-1C include views of a container 100 with a rotatable extensionportion 120. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, the container 100 can include asubstantially hollow body 110 including a plurality of body walls 112extending vertically from a bottom portion 111. The container 100 canfurther include a lid 102 rotatably coupled to an upper portion of thebody walls 112. The lid 102 can be connected to the body walls 112, viaa rotating connection means such as one or more pins, hinges, joints,pivots, etc., and can rotate to reversibly close an opening 615 (FIG. 6) of the body 110 formed by the plurality of body walls 112 and thebottom portion 111.

The container 100 can further include an extension portion 120 rotatablycoupled to an outward-facing surface of a body wall 112. While theextension portion 120 is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C as coupled to a particularbody wall 112, the extension portion 120 can be coupled to any of thebody walls 112 of the body 110.

The extension portion 120 can be, for example, a handle, as shown inFIGS. 1A-1C, allowing a user to conveniently pull or push the container100. To this end, the container 100 can include one or more wheels 105to allow the container body 110 to roll while being pulled or pushed viathe extension portion 120. The extension portion 120, or handle, caninclude, for example, a pair of outwardly extending arms 124 (FIG. 3A)connected via a distal, transversely extending crossbar 126 (FIG. 3A)(e.g., for gripping the handle), as shown in FIG. 3A. The handle 120 canalso include additional transversely extending crossbars disposedproximal of the distal crossbar 126. Moreover, as described in greaterdetail below (e.g., see FIGS. 5A and 5B), the upper surfaces of the arms124 and crossbar 126 can form an external tray retention portion 200configured to removably retain a tray 140 having a substantially flat,elongate surface.

The extension portion 120 can be connected to the body wall 112, via arotating connection such as one or more pins, hinges, joints, pivots,etc., and can rotate between, at least, an inactive position 621 (FIG. 6) in which the extension portion 120 is positioned against or proximateto the outward-facing surface of the body wall 112 and an activeposition 123 in which the extension portion 120 extends outwardly fromthe body wall 112. In the inactive position 621 (FIG. 6 ), whereby theextension portion 120 is stowed away, an angle formed between theextension portion 120 and the body wall 112 can be approximately 0degrees, that is, parallel to the body wall 112. In the active position123, whereby the extension portion 120 rotates upwardly from the bodywall 112 for use, the angle formed between the extension portion 120 andthe body wall 112 can be any angle greater than 0 degrees. The activeposition 123 can allow a user to engage with the extension portion 120(e.g., to pull the container 120 as shown in FIG. 1C).

The container 100 can include a hard stop 122 preventing upward rotationof the extension portion 120 beyond a certain point. For example, asshown in FIG. 1B, the hard stop 122 can prevent the extension portion120 from rotating beyond 105 degrees with respect to the body wall 112.However, it is understood that the example shown in FIG. 1B is providedfor demonstration purposes only, and that the container 100 can bemodified such that the hard stop 122 allows rotation of the extensionportion 120 beyond 105 degrees (e.g., 110 degrees, etc.), or less than105 degrees (e.g., 100 degrees, etc.).

The container 100 can further include a support stand 130 disposed onthe body wall 112 below the extension portion 120. The support stand 130can connect to body wall 112 so as to swing upwardly or downwardly intoa desired position. According to certain exemplary embodiments, thesupport stand 130 and the extension portion 120 are coupled to the samebody wall 112.

To illustrate, FIGS. 2A and 2B include views of the container 100 with arotatable support stand 130. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a proximal endof the support stand 130 can be coupled to the outward-facing surface ofthe body wall 112. The proximal end of the support stand 130 can beconnected to the body wall 112, via a rotating connection such as one ormore pins, hinges, joints, pivots, etc., and can permit the supportstand 130 to rotate between, at least, a stowed position 131 in whichthe support stand 130 is positioned against or proximate to theoutward-facing surface of the body wall 112 and a support position 233in which the support stand 130 extends outwardly from the body wall 112.

When the support stand 130 is not in use, it can be moved to the stowedposition 131, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, whereby the support stand 130 canbe positioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall 112. Here, the support stand 130 can be placed substantiallyflat against the body wall 112. Similarly, the extension portion 120 canbe positioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall 112 when not in use (i.e., inactive position 621 (FIG. 6 )).

When both of the extension portion 120 and the support stand 130 arestowed against the body wall 112, the extension portion 120 and thesupport stand 130 can be substantially parallel to one another, as shownin FIG. 6 . Also, in such positions, the extension portion 120 can atleast partially conceal the support stand 130, as shown in FIG. 6 , byvirtue of the extension portion 120 being disposed above the supportstand 130, though the extension portion 120 need not necessarily concealthe support stand 130.

In some examples, the support stand 130 can be configured such that itis not connected to the extension portion 120 in the stowed position 131(e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C). In other examples, the support stand130 can be configured such that it is connected to the extension portion120 in the stowed position 131 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 10A-10C).

On the other hand, when the support stand 130 is in the support position233, as shown in FIG. 2B, the support stand 130 can extend outwardlyfrom the body wall 112, and a distal end of the support stand 130 canengage with an underside of the extension portion 120 such that thesupport stand 130 prevents downward rotation of the extension portion120. When the distal end of the support stand 130 engages with theunderside of the extension portion 120, an angle formed between theextension portion 120 and the body wall 112 can be approximately equalto 90 degrees, while an angle formed between the support stand 130 andthe body wall 112 can be less than 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 2B.

The angle formed between the support stand 130 and the body wall 112 canvary based on the position on the body wall 112 at which the supportstand 130 is mounted in relation to the position of the extensionportion 120. That is, as the distance between the proximal end of thesupport stand 130 and the proximal end of the extension portion 120(where the extension portion 120 is coupled to the body wall 112)increases, the angle formed between the support stand 130 and the bodywall 112 can decrease. As the distance between the proximal end of thesupport stand 130 and the proximal end of the extension portion 120decreases, the angle formed between the support stand 130 and the bodywall 112 can increase.

When the support stand 130 is in the support position 233, the supportstand 130 can provide support for the extension portion 120 such that adownward force applied to the extension portion 120 (e.g., placing anobject atop the extension portion 120, forcibly pressing down on theextension portion 120, etc.) is transferred through the support stand130 to the body wall 112. Thus, the support stand 130 can preventdownward rotation of the extension portion 120, which can strengthen thepositioning of the extension portion 120 and eliminate accidentalcollapse thereof.

In further detail, FIGS. 3A and 3B include views of the support stand130 engaging with the extension portion 120. FIG. 4 is cross-sectionalview of the support stand 130 engaging with the extension portion 120taken along line A-A of FIG. 3B. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 , thedistal end of the support stand 130 can engage with an underside of theextension portion 120 so as to prevent the downward rotation of theextension portion 120. The support stand 130 can include one or moreoutwardly extending arms 134 coupled to a distal member, e.g.,transversely extending crossbar 136, configured to engage with theunderside of the extension portion 120. Although the arms 134 of thesupport stand 130 are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B as rigid, the arms 134can be alternatively formed to include one or more hinging portions, asdescribed in greater detail below (e.g., see FIGS. 10A-10C).

The extension portion 120 can include an indentation portion 128 formedon the underside of the extension portion 120. The indentation portion128 of the extension portion 120 can be formed to receive and mate withthe distal end 136 of the support stand 130 when the support stand 130is in the support position 233. The indentation portion 128 can includea groove (or “pocket”) substantially corresponding to the shape of thedistal end 136 of the support stand 130 so as to prevent the supportstand 130 from accidentally disengaging from the extension portion 120.

As noted above, the upper surfaces of the arms 124 and crossbar 126 canform an external tray retention portion 200 configured to removablyretain a tray 140 (FIG. 5A). Thus, when the support stand 130 is in thesupport position 233 supporting the weight of the extension portion 120,such that the extension portion 120 is approximately perpendicular tothe body wall 112, a tray 140 (FIG. 5A) can be securely placed on theexternal tray retention portion 200, allowing a user to use the tray 140(FIG. 5A) for preparing meals, storing utensils, serving food anddrinks, and so forth.

In this regard, FIGS. 5A and 5B include views of the container 100 withan external tray retention portion 200 formed in the extension portion120. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a removable tray 140 can be placedonto and securely retained by the external tray retention portion 200.The external tray retention portion 200 can be formed by upper surfacesof the arms 124 and crossbar 126 of the extension portion 120. Thus,when the support stand 130 is in the support position 233, and theexternal tray retention portion 200 retains the tray 140, as shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, the support stand 130 can support the collective weightof the tray 140 and the extension portion 120.

The tray 140 can be configured in any suitable manner. For instance, thetray 140 can be formed to include any number or variety of features suchas a substantially flat, elongate surface, one or more lateral ridges,one or more cup holders, raised walls, or any combination thereof. Thedimensions of the tray 140 also can vary according to preferences of thedesigner.

The external tray retention portion 200 can mate with an underside ofthe tray 140 so as to prevent lateral movement of the tray 140 (i.e.,movement in the x- or y-direction). As an example, the tray 140 can beformed with one or more features (not shown) on the underside of thetray 140 to snap into the walls of the arms 124 and crossbar 126 of theextension portion 120.

In addition to, or instead of, the external tray retention portion 200,the container 100 can be formed to include an internal tray retentionportion 300 (FIG. 6 ) to removably retain the tray 140. In this regard,FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container 100 with an internal trayretention portion 300 formed in an underside of the lid 102, and FIG. 7is a close-up perspective view of the internal tray retention portion300. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the internal tray retention portion 300can include, at least, an elongate first rail 150 and an elongate secondrail 152 respectively formed on opposite sides of a peripheral region ofthe underside of the lid 102. The rails 150, 152 can be formed in thelid 102 using a blow molding process, for example. Alternatively, therails 150, 152 can be formed using an injection molding process.

The first rail 150 and second rail 152 can be formed so as to receiveand retain the tray 140 therein. The distance between the first rail 150and the second rail 152 can correspond to about the width of the tray140, for example. Each of the rails 150, 152 can protrude outwardly frominner peripheral walls of the lid 102 such that the tray 140 can be slidunder the rails 150, 152 (i.e., between the rails 150, 152 and theunderside of the lid 102) in the distal direction, as shown in FIGS. 9Aand 9B. With the first and second rails 150 and 152, at least two sidesof the tray 140 can be secured under the rails 150, 152.

The internal tray retention portion 300 can also include an elongatethird rail 154 formed on the peripheral region of the underside of thelid 102 perpendicular to the first rail 150 and the second rail 152.Like the first rail 150 and the second rail 152, the third rail 154 canprotrude outwardly from an inner peripheral wall of the lid 102 suchthat the tray 140 can be slid under the third rail 154. With the first,second, and third rails 150, 152 and 154, at least three sides of thetray 140 can be secured under the rails 150, 152, 154.

Furthermore, the internal tray retention portion 300 can also include anelongate protrusion portion 156 formed in the lid 102 acting as a “hardstop” to prevent accidental release of the tray 140. In this regard,FIGS. 8A and 8B include isolated views of the lid 102 and the internaltray retention portion 300. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the protrusionportion 156 can be formed inside of the peripheral region of theunderside of the lid 102. The protrusion portion 156 can be disposedperpendicular to the first rail 150 and the second rail 152 and parallelto the third rail 154. The protrusion portion 156 can protrude from theinner surface of the lid 102 so as to abut a side of the tray 140 whilethe tray 140 is inserted in the internal tray retention portion 300. Inthis manner, the protrusion portion 156 can prevent the tray 140 fromsliding in the proximal direction and accidentally exiting the internaltray retention portion 300. To release the tray 140 from the internaltray retention portion 300, a user can manually lift the tray 140 overthe protrusion portion 156 and pull out the tray 140 in the proximaldirection.

The internal tray retention portion 300 can be configured such that ashape formed by the first rail 150, the second rail 152, the third rail154, and the protrusion portion 156 substantially corresponds to a shapeof the tray 140. In some configurations, the first rail 150, the secondrail 152, and the third rail 154 can be physically separate from eachother, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . In other configurations, the firstrail 150 and the second rail 152 can be connected via the third rail154, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIGS. 9A and 9B include views of the tray 140 being inserted into theinternal tray retention portion 300. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, thetray 140 can be slid in a distal direction (i.e., insertion direction)along the inner surface of the lid 102 under the first rail 150 and thesecond rail 152 until the distal end of the tray 140 is at leastpartially covered by the third rail 154. If the internal tray retentionportion 300 does not include the third rail 154, the distal end of thetray 140 can abut the distal inner wall of the lid 102. Here, theproximal end of the tray 140 can abut the protrusion portion 156 (if theinternal tray retention portion 300 includes the protrusion portion156), thus preventing the tray 140 from sliding in the proximaldirection (i.e., exit direction) and accidentally falling out of theinternal tray retention portion 300. Therefore, the tray 140 can bestored inside the container 100 against the lid 102, allowing forconvenient storage and transportation of the tray 140.

FIGS. 10A-10C include views of the container 100 with an additionalextension portion 160 and support stand 170. As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C,the container 100 can additionally, or alternatively, include atray-like extension portion 160 having a substantially flat, elongatesurface. The extension portion 160 can be rotatably coupled to anoutward-facing surface of a body wall 112 of the body 110. In oneexample, the extension portion 160 can be disposed at an opposite sideof the container 100 as the extension portion 120, as shown in FIGS.10A-10C.

Like the extension portion 120, the extension portion 160 can beconnected to the body wall 112, via a rotating connection such as one ormore pins, hinges, joints, pivots, etc., and can rotate between, atleast, an inactive position 1021 in which the extension portion 160 ispositioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall 112 and an active position 1023 in which the extension portion160 extends outwardly from the body wall 112. In the inactive position1021, as shown in FIG. 10A, whereby the extension portion 160 is stowedaway, an angle formed between the extension portion 160 and the bodywall 112 can be approximately 0 degrees, that is, parallel to the bodywall 112. In the active position 1023, as shown in FIG. 10C, whereby theextension portion 160 rotates upwardly from the body wall 112 for use,the angle formed between the extension portion 160 and the body wall 112can be any angle greater than 0 degrees, and generally about 90 degrees.The active position 1023 can allow a user to utilize the extensionportion 160 as an external tray for preparing food, storing utensils,and the like.

Also, the container 100 can additionally, or alternatively, include ahinging support stand 170 disposed on the body wall 112 below theextension portion 160. The support stand 170 can connect to body wall112 so as to pivot upwardly or downwardly into a desired position. Theproximal end of the support stand 170 can be connected to theoutward-facing surface of the body wall 112, via a pivoting connectionsuch as one or more pins, hinges, joints, pivots, etc., and can permitthe support stand 170 to pivot between, at least, a stowed position (notshown) in which the support stand 170 is positioned against or proximateto the outward-facing surface of the body wall 112 and a supportposition 173 in which the support stand 170 extends outwardly from thebody wall 112.

When the support stand 170 is not in use, it can be moved to the stowedposition, as shown in FIG. 10A, whereby the support stand 170 can bepositioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall 112. Here, the support stand 170 can be placed substantiallyflat against the body wall 112. Similarly, the extension portion 160 canbe positioned against or proximate to the outward-facing surface of thebody wall 112 when not in use (i.e., inactive position 1021).

When both of the extension portion 160 and the support stand 170 arestowed against the body wall 112, the extension portion 160 and thesupport stand 170 can be substantially parallel to one another, as shownin FIG. 10A. Also, in such positions, the extension portion 160 can atleast partially conceal the support stand 170 by virtue of the extensionportion 160 being disposed above the support stand 170, though theextension portion 160 need not necessarily conceal the support stand170.

On the other hand, when the support stand 170 is in the support position173, as shown in FIG. 10C, the support stand 170 can extend outwardlyfrom the body wall 112, and a distal end of the support stand 170 canengage with an underside of the extension portion 160 such that thesupport stand 170 prevents downward rotation of the extension portion160. In this position, an angle formed between the extension portion 160and the body wall 112 can be approximately equal to 90 degrees, while anangle formed between the support stand 170 and the body wall 112 can beless than 90 degrees.

Unlike the rotatable support stand 130, the support stand 170 caninclude at least one hinging portion 172 configured to fully hinge whenthe support stand 170 is in the stowed position (e.g., see FIG. 10A) andfully extend when the support stand 170 is in the support position(e.g., see FIG. 10C). Moreover, the distal end of the support stand 170can be coupled to (e.g., bolted 1073) the underside of the extensionportion 160. Thus, the support stand 170 and the extension portion 160can be connected to each other, even in the stowed/inactive position1021, and the support stand 170 automatically moves in conjunction withthe movement of the extension portion 160, rather than independently ofeach other in the case of the support stand 130 (FIG. 1A) and extensionportion 120 (FIG. 1A).

It should be understood that the configurations of extension portionsand support stands described above can be combined or arranged in anysuitable manner as would be understood by a person possessing anordinary level of skill in the art. For example, the handle-likeextension portion 120 can be disposed on the container body 110 so as toengage with the hinging support stand 170, and/or the tray-likeextension portion 160 can be disposed on the container body 110 so as toengage with the rotating support stand 130.

Accordingly, the container described herein can include internal and/orexternal tray retention portions for securely receiving and retaining aremovable tray on which a user can prepare meals, store utensils, servefood or drinks, and the like. The container can further include astowable support stand for supporting the weight of an extensionportion. As a result, a user can easily and securely transport anddeploy a tray for picnics or other outings in which a container is usedfor storing food, beverages, etc.

The foregoing description has been directed to certain embodiments ofthe present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that othervariations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments,with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Accordingly,this description is to be taken only by way of example and not tootherwise limit the scope of the embodiments herein. Therefore, it isthe object of the appended claims to cover all such variations andmodifications as come within the true spirit and scope of theembodiments herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a substantially hollowbody including a plurality of body walls extending vertically from abottom portion; a lid rotatably coupled to an upper portion of a bodywall among the plurality of body walls, the lid configured to reversiblyclose an opening of the substantially hollow body formed by theplurality of body walls; and an internal tray retention portion formedin an underside of the lid configured to removably retain a tray havinga substantially flat, elongate surface, the internal tray retentionportion including at least a first rail and a second rail respectivelyformed on opposite sides of a peripheral region of the underside of thelid, the first rail and the second rail formed so as to receive andretain the tray therein, wherein the internal tray retention portionfurther includes a third rail formed on the peripheral region of theunderside of the lid, wherein the first rail and the second rail areconnected via the third rail.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein theinternal tray retention portion further includes the third rail formedon the peripheral region of the underside of the lid perpendicular tothe first rail and the second rail.
 3. The container of claim 1, whereinthe internal tray retention portion further includes an elongateprotrusion portion formed inside of the peripheral region of theunderside of the lid perpendicular to the first rail and the second railand parallel to the third rail.
 4. The container of claim 3, wherein ashape formed by the first rail, the second rail, the third rail, and theelongate protrusion portion substantially corresponds to a shape of thetray.
 5. A container system comprising: a substantially hollow bodyincluding a plurality of body walls extending vertically from a bottomportion; a removable tray having a substantially flat, elongate surface;a lid rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the plurality of bodywalls, the lid configured to reversibly close an opening of thesubstantially hollow body formed by the plurality of body walls; ahandle rotatably coupled to an outward-facing surface of a body wallamong the plurality of body walls, the handle configured to rotate to anactive position in which the handle extends outwardly from the bodywall; a support stand having a proximal end coupled to theoutward-facing surface of the body wall and a distal end, the supportstand configured to move between at least a stowed position in which thesupport stand is positioned against or proximate to the outward-facingsurface of the body wall and a support position in which the supportstand extends outwardly from the body wall and engages with an undersideof the handle; an internal tray retention portion formed in an undersideof the lid configured to removably retain the removable tray; and anexternal tray retention portion formed in an upper surface of the handleconfigured to removably retain the removable tray.
 6. The containersystem of claim 5, wherein, when the support stand is in the supportposition and the external tray retention portion retains the removabletray, the support stand provides support for the removable tray and thehandle such that the support stand prevents downward rotation of thehandle.
 7. A container comprising: a substantially hollow body includinga plurality of body walls extending vertically from a bottom portion; alid rotatably coupled to an upper portion of a body wall among theplurality of body walls, the lid configured to reversibly close anopening of the substantially hollow body formed by the plurality of bodywalls; and an internal tray retention portion formed in an underside ofthe lid configured to removably retain a tray having a substantiallyflat, elongate surface, the internal tray retention portion including atleast a first rail and a second rail respectively formed on oppositesides of a peripheral region of the underside of the lid, the first railand the second rail formed so as to receive and retain the tray therein,wherein the internal tray retention portion further includes a thirdrail formed on the peripheral region of the underside of the lid,wherein the first rail, the second rail, and the third rail arephysically separate from each other.